CHAPTER XXI.
THE CLERGYMAN AND HIS WIFE.
The captain of the whale ship very kindly took the young voyagers to his own house until their affairs were settled up. He had dealt fairly and justly by them in all things, and both were grateful to him for the interest he had manifested in their welfare.
"What are you going to do now, Noddy?" asked Mollie, after the instruments had been sold and the proceeds paid over to them.
"I'm going to Woodville, now, to face the music," replied Noddy. "I suppose they will take me to the court-house; but I have made up my mind to submit to the penalty, whatever it may be, for setting the boat-house afire."
"Fanny has told all about it before this time, you may be certain," added Mollie, to whom he had related the story of the fire.
"I hope she has not; for I think I am the guilty one. She wouldn't have set the fire if it hadn't been for me. I am going to stand right up to it, and take the consequences, even if they send me to prison; but I hope they won't do that."
"I'm sure they won't. But, Noddy, suppose Miss Fanny has not told the truth yet. Will you still deceive your kind friends? You told me you had been made over new since you left Woodville, and I know you have. You said you meant to live a good life, and not lie, or steal, or get angry, or do anything that is bad."
"Well, I mean so, Mollie. I intend to stick to it. They won't know anything about that. They won't believe anything I say."